The Rise of the AfD: Germany's New Political Reality

Together with the American Council on Germany and Washington University in St. Louis, we are pleased to present a breakfast discussion with journalist and Deutschlandradio moderator Vladimir Balzer.

Vladimir Balzer will speak on “The Rise of the AfD: Germany’s New Political Reality,” exploring the factors behind the AfD’s rise, its role in contemporary German politics, and what its growing support means for Germany’s future.

Vladimir Balzer works as a radio journalist and moderator at Deutschlandradio. He grew up in Leipzig and studied in Dublin, Venice, and Leipzig. He began his career as a presenter, reporter, and editor at Deutschlandradio and MDR. Among other programs, he hosts the daily cultural affairs program Fazit – Kultur vom Tage on Deutschlandfunk Kultur. In 2022, he was selected as a Kellen Fellow by the American Council on Germany, and in 2023 he joined Deutschlandradio’s main Berlin studio as a correspondent. He is also a frequent commentator on German television, including ZDF, and regularly reports from the United States.